The joint military team deployed to protect
in the Niger Delta said on Thursday it arrested six suspected vandals and
pirates in multiple operations in April.
The team said in a statement signed by Col.
Isa Ado, its spokesperson, in Yenagoa on Thursday that its men recovered arms
in the operations.
The statement said that troops deployed in
Ohaji/Oguta Local Government Area in Imo on April 7 recovered an automatic rifle
with one magazine loaded with 14 rounds of 5.5mm ammunition.
It said that the troops also recovered two
locally made single barrel guns and a pistol.
It said that following a tip off on April 20,
troops in conjunction with the Nigeria Pipeline Development Company and the
Directorate of State Services recovered a lorry suspected to be carrying crude
oil.
“Our troops also arrested three suspected
pipeline vandals on April 22 in connection with the vandalised Nigerian Agip
Oil Company pipeline in Kwale, Ndokwa local government in Delta.
“One of the suspects, a member of the local
vigilance group, confessed to receiving gratification from other suspects to
allow them access to the company’s pipelines,’’ the statement said.
It added that the items recovered from the
suspects included two oxygen cylinders, two cutting nozzles, welding hoses and
cell phones.
Other items recovered included six hack saw
blades, an axe, cutlass and hacksaw frames.
The statement said that suspects were in the
custody of the team for preliminary investigation before handing them over to
the prosecuting agency.
The statement further said that troops
deployed to Ogbonbiri Flow Station in Southern Ijaw in Bayelsa on April 15
arrested an illegal oil bunkerer while attempting to vandalise a well.
It listed items recovered from the suspects
to include one cutlass, one cell phone and a small wooden boat.
“The marine component of the joint force, NNS
Delta, also conducted anti-illegal oil bunkering patrol between April 16 and
April 19.
“During the operation, two suspected sea
pirates were arrested in Agoro in Burutu local government of Delta,” it said.
It listed items recovered from the suspects
to include a locally made gun with four cartridges and a 40 horse power Yamaha
outboard engine.
It said the troops also discovered a network
of illegal oil refineries with 10 tanks each containing 5000 litres of
illegally refined diesel on Lolumo Creek, Gbaramatu Kingdom.
It said that three Cotonou boats laden with
about 100 metric tons each and 40 HP engine speed boat were also recovered.
“The Cotonou boats and their contents were
destroyed while the speed boat engine is in the custody of the joint force for
further action,’’ it said.
The statement said that NNS Pathfinder, while
conducting anti-illegal oil bunkering patrol on April 12, discovered a large
warehouse used for illegal bunkering activities at Ogbogoro-Uzoba Waterside in
the Choba axis in Rivers.
It listed items in the warehouse to included
350 drums of illegally refined diesel, different sizes of polythene bags filled
with adulterated products, four plastic tanks filled with stolen crude and
seven pumping machines.
It added that five suspects were arrested
during the operation.
It added that the warehouse had been sealed
and would be guarded till formal handing over for prosecution.
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